for uninsured services - Saskatchewan Medical Association

SECTION H:ANAESTHESIAANAESTHESIA CATEGORIES BY SURGICAL PROCEDUREGENERAL CONSIDERATIONSAnaesthesia is paid on the basis of the complexity of the surgicalprocedure and the total anaesthetic time. The following outlines theclassification of anaesthetic complexity according to the surgicalprocedure(s).Low complexity:- All percutaneous diagnostic and therapeutic proceduresnot otherwise listed.- Superficial surgery on the integumentary system, nerves,vessels, muscles, tendons and bones not otherwise listed.Medium complexity:- Anaesthesia in locations remote from the Operating Roomincluding diagnostic or invasive radiology.- Anaesthesia for cases listed as "Low complexity" donein the prone or sitting position (requires note on claim).- Debridement and grafting of burns greater than 20 percent BSA.- Low complexity cases lasting longer than 90 minutes but less than 4 hoursHigh complexity :- All multiple trauma cases lasting longer than 4 hours.- Anaesthesia for live organ donor retrieval.- All cases lasting longer than 4 hours.- All cardiac catheterizations.- All laser procedures in the airway.HEADLow Complexity:- All procedures on the external, middle or inner ear.- All procedures on the eye (including cataracts) or eyelidsnot otherwise listed.- Anaesthesia for ECT.Medium Complexity:- All procedures on the skull, mandible, maxilla, orbits and facial bones.- All procedures inside the nose or accessory sinuses.- All intraoral procedures except those listed as "High complexity".- The following eye procedures: repair of open eyes, scleral buckling,vitroretinal procedures, strabismus correction, corneal transplants,glaucoma procedures, tumors and enucleation.- All closed intracranial procedures done by needle techniques.High Complexity:- All open intracranial procedures on the brain, meninges orcerebral vessels.NECKMedium Complexity:- All procedures on the thyroid gland, parathyroids, salivaryglands, lymphatics and congenital branchial cleft defects.- All endoscopic or open procedures on the larynx or tracheanot otherwise listed.High Complexity:- All procedures on the major vessels.- Anaesthesia for cystic hygroma, laryngectomy, or radicalneck dissection.- Epiglottitis, foreign body in the airway, traumatic disruptionof the larynx.SMA FEE GUIDE - H4 - October 1, 2011